<p><big><b>10. Chris Owings — Arizona Diamondbacks</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .263 average, 52 games, 175 at-bats, 46 hits, 9 RBIs, 3 home runs, 6 stolen bases</p>
<p>The middle infielder received National League Rookie of the Month honors after owning the best batting average (.313) among N.L. rookies in the month of April. He has dropped off considerably, however, only hitting .217 in the month of May. Even with that slump he had moments of brilliance, including a game May 17 where he missed hitting the cycle by just a single.</p> less

<p><big><b>9. James Jones — Seattle Mariners</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .293 average, 28 games, 92 at-bats, 27 hits, 2 RBIs, 0 home runs, 6 stolen bases</p>
<p>While Jones is on the outside looking in with this year’s class of rookies, he certainly has been a bright spot for the M’s this season. The center fielder hit safely in his first 14 major-league starts, a club record, and has barely slowed down since. He has provided speed and stability at the top of the Mariners lineup, including two triples and a team-best six stolen bases.</p> less

<p><big><b>8. Billy Hamilton — Cincinnati Reds</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .251 average, 50 games, 171 at-bats, 43 hits, 10 RBIs, 1 home run, 20 stolen bases</p>
<p>The speedy center fielder is known for his stellar baserunning — he’s tied for second place in the majors with 20 stolen bases in 2014. Hamilton has started to find some consistency at the plate as well, hitting .260 in the month of May, but will need to continue to improve his approach to solidify his shot at rookie honors.</p> less

<p><big><b>7. Roenis Elias — Seattle Mariners</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> 4-4 record, 3.53 ERA, 12 games (12 starts), 74.0 innings, 65 strikeouts, 27 walks</p>
<p>Sunday’s game was the best Elias has had in his 12 starts as a professional, but the left-hander has been impressive all season long. He has five or more strikeouts in nine of those starts, and has not thrown for fewer than five innings in any game. He, too, is probably outside of the A.L.’s best rookies at this moment, but it’s not entirely outrageous to believe he has a shot at being one of the best.</p> less

<p><big><b>6. Yordano Ventura — Kansas City Royals</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> 2-5 record, 3.45 ERA, 10 games (10 starts), 57.1 innings, 59 strikeouts, 19 walks</p>
<p>This right-handed rising star can reach triple digits with his fastball, and has become one of the most exciting pitchers to watch in all of baseball. However, Ventura had a brief scare on May 26, leaving in the third inning against Houston with right elbow pain. An MRI showed no ligament damage, and he should return to the Royals’ rotation this week with no pain. Assuming there is nothing more to his elbow pain, Ventura should remain one of the hardest pitchers to hit in the A.L., averaging 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings.</p> less

<p><big><b>5. Xander Bogaerts — Boston Red Sox</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .296 average, 54 games, 199 at-bats, 59 hits, 13 RBIs, 3 home runs, 1 stolen base</p>
<p>The 21-year-old shortstop/third baseman may be one of the youngest players in the majors, but he is also one of the most explosive. He’s tied for the team lead in doubles (17) with fellow rookie Jackie Bradley Jr., and ranks in the top 15 in the A.L. in batting average. Bogaerts has increased his production even more over his last nine games, hitting .384 since May 24, including three consecutive three-hit games.</p> less

<p><big><b>4. George Springer — Houston Astros</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .259 average, 41 games, 162 at-bats, 42 hits, 29 RBIs, 10 home runs, 1 stolen base</p>
<p>No rookie hitter is better right now than right fielder Springer, who recently embarked upon an 11-game hitting streak, including a stretch with seven homers in seven games. Perhaps most impressive was his four-hit game on May 26, in which he recorded a homer and two doubles. Though he only hit .182 in April he has dazzled since, and should he continue hitting as well as he has, he should stay at the forefront of the discussion of the A.L.’s best rookies.</p> less

<p><big><b>3. Yangervis Solarte — New York Yankees</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .294 average, 50 games, 177 at-bats, 52 hits, 26 RBIs, 6 home runs, 0 stolen bases</p>
<p>Solarte has shone offensively for a semi-lackluster Yankees lineup this season, leading the team with his .294 average. The third baseman has cooled off somewhat recently, hitting just 7-for-35 in his last 10 games, but if he can get his numbers back to where they were at the beginning of the season (.373 average in his first 15 games), he could further cement himself in the conversation.</p> less

<p><big><b>2. Jose Abreu — Chicago White Sox</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> .260 average, 44 games, 173 at-bats, 45 hits, 42 RBIs, 15 home runs, 0 stolen bases</p>
<p>The April A.L. Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month ended up on the disabled list with ankle tendonitis on May 18, but was activated Monday and still leads his team in homers and RBIs. Should Abreu stay healthy, he has the best shot of any hitter to win the rookie crown at the end of the season, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be in the same shape he was prior to his injury.</p> less

<p><big><b>1. Masahiro Tanaka — New York Yankees</b></big></p>
<p><b>2014 stats:</b> 8-1 record, 2.06 ERA, 11 games (11 starts), 78.2 innings, 88 strikeouts, 12 walks</p>
<p>The Yankees paid $175 million for the right-handed Tanaka, and so far, he’s been worth every penny — he owns the best ERA and WHIP in the A.L. and ranks second in wins. The only thing potentially holding Tanaka back from the crown at this point is if Rookie of the Year voters decide Tanaka is too experienced to be considered a “rookie”; though he is by MLB standards, he has several years of professional experience in Japan.</p> less

Seattle’s Roenis Elias pitches during the third inning en route to a complete-game 4-0 shutout Sunday against the Tigers at Safeco Field. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Sunday’s 4-0 win against the Detroit Tigers was yet another stellar start for Seattle Mariners rookie pitcher Roenis Elias as he continued his impressive 2014 campaign.

The three-hit performance was the first complete game of Elias’ major-league career, keeping the Mariners at .500. With eight strikeouts and one walk, the lefty became the first Seattle rookie to throw a shutout since Freddy Garcia in 1999.

The game also allowed Elias to sneak quietly into a crowded group of the American League’s top rookies.

Wondering where Elias might rank among the best rookies in baseball so far this season? Take a look at our rankings above, and see whether you agree. Think we left someone out, or that someone shouldn’t be here? Let us know in the comments below.